Peace On Earth

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Will there ever be peace on earth?

These days it seems that peace on earth is further than ever from being even remotely possible. Tis the season when we offer that phrase more readily to each other too. We say the words but it feels like such an impossibility.

There is so much anger, hostility, violence out there and in our back yards and even in our front living rooms too. And as well, if we are honest inside our heads and hearts at times too.

What does peace mean?

The Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary defines peace as:

-“A state of tranquility or quiet such as freedom from civil disturbance
-A state of security or order in a community provided for by law or custom
-Freedom from being disturbed or bothered by people, noise, etc.
-Freedom from disquieting or oppressive thoughts or emotions
-Harmony in personal relations
-A state or period of mutual concord between governments
-A pact or agreement to end hostilities between those who have been at war or in a state of enmity”

So, how in the world do we achieve peace on earth?

There is a song that comes to mind with the chorus that goes:
Let there be peace on earth
And let it begin with me
Let there be peace on earth
The peace that was meant to be…

It does seem that peace on earth must start inside each one of us. In that we have freedom from disquieting or oppressive thoughts or emotions and from being disturbed by other people.

To achieve that it’s important to have the tools we need to cope with all the challenges that life brings our way and that we readily use them. We can’t find peace if we don’t manage our thoughts and emotions.

We can learn to regulate our emotions and work to rid ourselves of unhealthy thinking habits that get in our way. It takes practice and practice and lots of it too. Change is hard work.

Once we can do that I suspect we will find more harmony in our personal relations too.

From there perhaps, just perhaps peace would spread from heart to heart to neighborhoods to communities to regions to countries. And eventually maybe just maybe, the whole world would be filled with peaceful hearts.

The gift of peace on earth

This time of year, I love to watch old black and white holiday movies from a very long time ago. One of my seasonal favorites is ‘The Bishop’s Wife’. An angel comes to help a man, a church bishop, struggling with raising money for a new cathedral and hurting his marriage in the process. He learns much from the angel. Before the angel departs he writes a sermon that the bishop reads at the very end of the movie.

His words have great importance. You see he encourages us all to give each other these very important gifts to help create peace on earth: “loving kindness, warm hearts, and a stretched-out hand of tolerance”!

May you find them as well this holiday season! And bring peace on earth to your heart and to those around you too!
Jude

Do Contact Me together in therapy we can explore life coping tools for you to incorporate into your life’s journey! Anxiety Therapy, Depression Therapy, Grief Therapy can make a difference and help you find peace!

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